The effect of environmental temperature, electrolyte sources and dietary electrolyte balance on performance and blood parameters of weanling pigs

Author

John W. Tanner

Date of Award

8-1992

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

J.P. Hitchcock

Committee Members

Robert A. McLean, Kelly R. Robbins, James K. Miller, Henry G. Kattesh

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted utilizing weanling pigs to evaluate: 1) the effect of different dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) levels; 2) different dEB levels and high environmental temperature; and 3) different electrolyte sources and dEB levels on performance and blood parameters.

Experiment 1. Forty-nine crossbred weanling pigs averaging 11.8 kg were randomly assigned seven experimental diets for 21 d to determine the effect of different dEB levels on performance and blood parameters. Average daily gain, feed intake and gain/feed were not significantly affected by an increase in dEB above 224 mEg/kg of feed with the addition of either NaHCO₃ or KHCO₃. Inspection of the data indicated that initial pig weight affected response to dEB (P<.05) as illustrated by a greater feed intake and body weight gain of pigs fed NaHC0₃ versus KHCO₃. Blood gases were not significantly affected by treatment. Subsequent statistical analysis with electrolyte source using initial weight as a covariate indicated that supplementation of NaHCO₃ resulted in increased body weight gain, feed consumption, and gain/feed.

Experiment 2. Twenty-four crossbred weanling pigs averaging 17.3 kg were allotted to six dietary treatments which were blocked by initial weight. The treatments were fed for 19 d to evaluate the effect of different dEB levels (177, 205 and 347 mEq/kg of feed) and low (19.3 to 21.9°C) and high (27.7 to 32.3°C) environmental temperatures. Pigs housed under the low temperature gained an average of 77 g more per day and consumed an average of 320 g more feed per day than pigs housed under the high temperature (P<.05); however, the high temperature treated pigs had improved (P<.05) gain/feed. Increasing the dEB level did not significantly affect performance or blood parameters. High temperature lowered performance of pigs in this experiment.

Experiment 3. Fifty-four crossbred weanling pigs averaging 12.4 kg were allotted to nine treatments for 27 d to determine the effect of electrolyte source and dEB level on performance and blood parameters. Pigs were blocked by initial weight. Average daily gain of pigs fed the higher level (417 mEq/kg) was depressed by an average of 54 g (P<.05). Pigs fed 417 mEq/kg tended to have a reduced intake of feed. Blood gases and plasma mineral levels were not significantly affected by electrolyte balance in this experiment. Sodium sources improved blood buffering capacity of pigs when compared to potassium sources.

Recommended Citation

Tanner, John W., "The effect of environmental temperature, electrolyte sources and dietary electrolyte balance on performance and blood parameters of weanling pigs. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1992.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7577